First Nations and Métis Sponsorships

The Ministry of Government Relations’ First Nations and Métis Relations (FNMR) unit provides sponsorship funding to qualifying First Nations and Métis community organizations or non-profit organizations to assist with public events that promote reconciliation and cultural understanding and that benefit Indigenous people.

The event must fit within at least one of the following sponsorship funding categories:

• education;
• employment;
• professional development;
• cultural celebrations; and/or
• honouring veterans and Elders.

Typical examples of sponsorship funding are: $1,000 for a community event; $2,000 for a cultural celebration, e.g. a powwow; and up to $5,000 for a province-wide event, e.g. a conference.

You can apply for sponsorship funding if your organization is one of the following Saskatchewan-based entities:

• Registered non-profit organization based in Saskatchewan
• First Nation, Tribal Council and/or Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN)
• Métis Nation-Saskatchewan (MN-S) or MN-S Region, Local and Affiliate
• Municipality

*Please note: Eligible applicants must be in good standing with the Ministry of Government Relations’ grant funding programs and must not have any outstanding final reports.

Ineligible Applicants

• individuals
• unincorporated entities
• for-profit corporations

Applications must include the following information:

• Name of event
• Date of event
• Event location and description, including its goals and objectives, and the benefits to the community or the sponsoring organization
• Summary of past successful events (of a similar kind), if applicable
• Amount requested and budget total, along with a budget breakdown (further details are provided below in section 4)
• Other sources of funding or in-kind supports
• Partnerships with other organizations or communities, if applicable

Preference will be given to projects that have not received funding from this grant program in the previous 12 months.

Applications will be considered ineligible if the proposed event:

• Involves an organization’s ongoing programming or core operations;
• Is intended to make a profit; or
• Is more than halfway complete at the time of application.

Applicants may not apply to more than one FNMR grant program to support the same project.

Projects will be assessed on the following criteria:

• Event concept aligns with at least one of the five grant categories stated above
• Innovation
• Potential for the event to promote reconciliation and cultural understanding, and benefit Indigenous people
• Achievable project goals and objectives
• Budget has detailed and realistic expenditures

Applicants must include a budget with their submission that outlines the full cost details of the event and not only what is being applied for through First Nations and Métis Sponsorship funding. Download a sample budget template.

All funding requested must be specific to the event and all eligible expenses must be verifiable by receipts.

Eligible Expenses

Funding requested must be specific to the event and eligible expenses include:

• Contracted services, honoraria and gifts for Elders, Knowledge Keepers, resource people who are offering their skills and expertise for the successful completion of the event
• In-province travel expenses for event participants, including gas and vehicle rental to attend the event
• Materials and supply expenses related to the delivery of the event
• Cultural protocol expenses such as tobacco
• Facility costs would only be considered eligible in situations where additional space is required for the event. Venue fees for the existing facility space of the applicant organization are not eligible and would be considered as an in-kind contribution.
• Administrative costs up to a maximum of 10 per cent of the total grant amount.

Ineligible Expenses

• Existing staff salaries and wages for staff involved in the project (however, these may be included as in-kind contributions)
• Out-of-province travel
• Capital expenditures such as construction, major infrastructure, land or building acquisitions
• Major purchases such as vehicles, computer equipment and other tangible assets
• The existing space/facility of an applicant organization is not eligible and would be considered as an in-kind contribution, i.e. rent, utilities and office overhead
• Administrative costs over 10 per cent of the total grant amount

Funds may only be used for the eligible expenditures outlined in the grant agreement. Changes to the use of funds must have prior approval in writing by the Ministry of Government Relations. Funds may not be transferred to other activities or organizations and unused funds must be returned.

Please note:

• All applications must be complete, accurate and comprehensive. Missing or incomplete information will not be reviewed or assessed.
• Receipt of the application will be acknowledged by email.
• As this is a competitive application process, not all assessed projects will receive funding.
• Funding decisions will be provided to the applicant in writing. Decisions are deemed final and cannot be appealed.

Apply for First Nations and Métis Sponsorships funding

Applicants should contact the FNMR unit by email or telephone if they need to submit applications by fax.

As a condition of funding, a final report along with a statement on the event’s expenditures must be submitted by the due date specified in the Grant Funding Agreement.

Each expenditure must correspond to eligible approved expenses identified in the Grant Funding Agreement.

Download the final reporting form

The ministry may publish recipients, events, projects and grant amounts.

If you have questions or require more information about the First Nations and Métis Sponsorships Fund, please contact:

First Nations and Métis Relations
Indigenous and Northern Relations, Ministry of Government Relations
410-1855 Victoria Avenue
REGINA SK S4P 3T2
Phone: 306-798-0183
Email: fnmr@gov.sk.ca